The prime minister of New ZealandJacinda Ardern, a global icon of progressive politics, surprised her country with the announcement on Thursday of her resignation from office.
The 42-year-old leader, who led the government through natural disasters, the COVID-19 pandemic and its worst terrorist attack, said she no longer has “the energy” to go on, according to a report from afp.
Jacinda Ardern resigns as Prime Minister of New Zealand: “I have given everything of myself to be Prime Minister, but it has also cost me a lot” https://t.co/JURrJYXgL3 pic.twitter.com/i0fuPjbGlI
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“I am human. We give it all we can while we can until the time comes. For me it is time, ”she declared in a meeting with members of his Labor Party. “I no longer have energy for another four years,” she added, noting that she will step down no later than February 7.
Ardern came to power in 2017 with a coalition government and then led his center-left party to a sweeping victory in the 2020 election.
During her tenure, she was praised for her response to the terrorist attack on two Muslim mosques and for her treatment of the COVID-19 pandemic. She became the second world leader to give birth while in office.
But his popular support, often cited as “Jacindamania,” has fallen in recent polls amid rising inflation and fears of rising crime rates.
In his first public appearance since Parliament went into recess in December, he told Labor’s annual gathering that he hoped to find the energy to continue as leader. “But I couldn’t do it,” he admitted.
The ruler said she was proud of her government’s actions to make housing more affordable, address climate change and child poverty. She also announced that the next general election will be held on October 14 and that until then she will continue as a member of Parliament.
Although the latest polls indicate that a coalition of the center-right National and Act parties will win the election, Ardern assured that this is not the reason for his resignation.
“I’m not leaving because I think we can’t win the next election, but because I think we can (win) and we will,” he said at the meeting in Napier, on the country’s east coast.
Ardern indicated that the Labor caucus will choose a new leader within three days after he leaves office. Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson has said he will not run for office.
Ardern assured that there is no secret behind his resignation. “I am leaving because, with such a privileged job, there is a great responsibility, the responsibility of knowing when you are the right person to lead and when you are not,” she said.
With information from Afp.
